Support device for files

ABSTRACT

Support device for files comprising one or a pair of support members adapted to support files in a vertical position and having engagement means for slidably engaging the support member in any of a plurality of positions.

Umted States Patent 1191 1111 3,844,415 Heimann [4 Oct. 29, 1974 SUPPORTDEVICE FOR FILES 1,739,545 12/1929 Cubberley 211/51 x l 1,750,576 3 1930C bb l 211 43 X [76] Invent: Falkenberg 56 1,780,872 11/1930 Diimlfe n ir 2 11/43 PP -L Germany 1,832,884 11/1931 Ulrich 211/43 2,689,571 9/1954Watkins 211/11 X [22] Filed 1972 2,872,046 2/1959 Polay 211/42 [21]Appl. No.; 304,980 3,235,092 2/1966 Schwarz... 211/43 3,425,565 2/1969Sprenger.. 21 1/43 3,487,945 11/1970 Barham 211/43 [30] ForeignApplication Priority Data Nov. 9, 1971 Germany 2155505 P im ryExaminer-Roy D, Frazier Assistant Examiner-Thomas J. l-llolko [52] US.Cl 211/43, 211/51, 211/184 [51] Int. Cl A47b 63/00 [58] Field of Search211/11, 42, 43, 52, 51, [57] ABSTRAC? 21 1 4; 108/61 Support device forfiles compr|s1ng one or a pair of support members adapted to supportfiles in a vertical [56] References Cited position and having engagementmeans for slidably en- UNITED STATES PATENTS gaging the support memberin any of a plurality of po- 504,233 8/1893 McVey et a1. 211/43 Smonsi1,682,060 8/1928 Banks 211/43 6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures SUPPORT DEVICEson was SUMMARY The present invention relates to a support device forfiles, folders, card filing systems, catalogues, loose sheets,newspapers, journals or the like all hereinafter referred to as files.

It is known to support books between sheet angle iron supports known asbook ends to prevent the books from falling out. The base of thesupports are often provided with a smooth surface or a covering, forexample of felt, to prevent the supports scratching the support ingsurface on which they are resting. However, the supports slip on thebase if there is a lateral pressure on them from a stack of books beingsupported between them.

A solution to this problem is to provide slip-proof coverings on thebase of the supports but this is only effective when there is adeliberate outward movement of the supports e.g., to insert furtherbooks between them.

The disadvantages are particularly evident if the material to beinserted are unstable files, brochures or other sheets or when the filesare often consulted so that it is necessary for the device to provideeasy lateral displaceability of the supports together with maximumsupport. When a file is to be inserted it is necessary for their to besome play between the two supports acting on the two sides of thealready inserted files whereas any play between the supports after theyhave been closed to support the files is damaging because of thetendency for other files to curl up or fall out.

A'further disadvantage of the known support means is that the supportshave a minimum approach distance determined by the length of the base ofthe two supports. Shortened bases reduces this minimum approach distancebut simultaneously it reduces the stability of the supports.

It has therefore been proposed to provide supports with securing catchesadapted to engage slots provided in the support surface supporting thesupports and must stand perpendicular only a small amount of play isprovided between the securing catches and the slots. However, it isdifiicult to replace the supports if the stack of files containedbetween them exerts a large pressure. Furthermore the adjustment of thesupports can only be effected at predetermined positions spaced atrelatively large distances from each other and this is disadvantageousespecially when thin files are to be stored. Furthermore a slottedsupport surface is necessary.

There is a need for a simple device which provides reliable lateralsupport of a file without free play and at the same time can be easilylaterally displaced to any position in a range or at least to any of alarge number of predetermined positions.

The invention includes a support device for files including at least onesupport member adapted to support one side of a file and engagementmeans for slidably engaging this support member in any of a plurality ofpositions.

The invention also includes a support device for files including asupport member adapted to support files in a vertical position betweenit and another support member or other support, this first said supportmember being movable and having a surface adapted to engage anothersurface to stop motion of the said support member.

file material but also simple and easy adjustability of the supports.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the support device designed according tothe invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view towards the support device with documentarymaterial or files placed therein, pressure being exerted from theoutside on to the upper part of the support panels;

FIG. 3 is a view as in FIG. 2, but in this case an outwardly-directedpressure is being exerted on the support panels;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a further form of embodiment of thesubject of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a section along line Ill-Ill in FIG. 4.

The support device comprises the two parts 1 & 2. Part 1 is formed by aperpendicular support panel 3 and a horizontal base panel 5 and part 2is formed by a perpendicular support panel 4 and a horizontal base panelBase panel 5 is in the form of two tongues 7 & 8 and base panel 6 is inthe form of a single tongue 9 which interleaves with the tongues 7 & 8.The contact faces of the two tongues 8 are 10 and the cooperatingcontact faces of the tongue 9 are 11.

The underface of the tongues is smooth so that the base panels'S & 6glide easily over the support surface 19.

The panels 3 & 4 can be displaced to change the width x and can be movedtowards each other until they meet. In this way a large amount ofdocumentary material in a number of filing folders 12 can be heldadjacent each other without the documentary material rolling together.

In theory the largest effective width x is achieved when the panels 3 &4 have been moved away from each other to the position where the tongues7 & 8 are still just in contact with the tongue 11. It is howeverpossible practice to extend the effective width it further although thereciprocal guiding action of tongue 9 with the tongues 7 & 8 is lost.

It is advantageous in this case the chamfer the upper corner of thefront edges of l3, l4 & 15 of the three tongues 7, 8 and 9 so that whenthe parts 1 and 2 are pushed together again any files positioned betweenthe tongues 7 & 8 and the tongue 9 can be easily lifted on to thetongues without damage.

Slip barriers l6, l7 & 18 having an extremely slipproof coating, e.g.,self-adhesive Tesaband 563, are located under the tongues to stop thetongues from slipping along surface 19 when files are being held betweenthe panels 3 & 4. The slip barriers l6 & 17 are arranged at a distance yfrom the outside edge of the support panel 3 and similarly the slipbarrier 18 is arranged at a distance y from the support panel 4. Thus,when the parts 1 & 2 are pushed inwards (FIG. 2) and the barriers l6, l7& 18 thereby lifted out of contact with the surface 19, the parts 1 & 2can be moved as a result of their smooth surface. As soon as the topparts of l & 2 are no longer pushed inwards or outwards, the parts 1 &2, their original position & the slip barrier 16, 17 & 18 contact thesurface 19 thus preventing the parts 1 and 2 being forced outwards asthe result of the pres sure emanating from the stack of files l2.

The forward parts of the tongues 7, 8, & 9 are resiliently flexible andrear part 1 of the tongues 7, 8 & 9 are rigid. Panels 3 & 4 aremaintained rigid e.g. by means of reinforcement ribs and 21.

The slip barriers 16, 17 & 18 are also raised in a similar manner if apressure is exerted from the inside outwards on to the upper half of thesupport panels 3 and 4. in this case parts 1 & 2 are pushed from within(see FIG. 3) and raise the slip barriers l6, l7, 18 from the supportsurface 19 with the result that the parts 1 and 2 slide outwards. lf thecoating of the slip barriers l6, l7 & 18 is quite thick it isadvantageous to provide slid ing edges 22 on the outside edges of thepanels 3 & 4. it is possible in this way to raise the slip barriers 16,17, 18 from the support surface 19 by pivoting the panels 3 & 4 aboutthese sliding edges 22 without any difficult rotation of the supportpanels 3 and 4.

in order to facilitate movement of the support panels 3 & 4, handles 23and 24 are provided. These handles 23 & 24 can also serve to indicatethe files 12 which have been inserted into the device if they areprovided with classification cards.

Cuts 25, 26 are provided in support panels 3 and 4 for the passage ofthe tongues 7, 8 and 9 which enables panels 3 & 4 to be pushedcompletely together. It is further advantageous to extend these cuts 25,26 upwards sufficiently to allow tongues 7, 8 & 9 some upward play. Inthis waythe tipping motion of either of the support panels 3 & 4 whichraises the slip barriers l6, l7 and 18 from surface 19 is prevented frombeing transmitted to the other support panel 4 & 3.

In another embodiment shown in figure 4 the support parts have beendrawn apart to their maximum effective width x. Sunk toothed tracks 27,28, 29 are arranged on a stationary support surface with a view toguiding the parts 1 & 2. The slip barriers comprise rocking teeth 30,31, 32 which lock into the toothed tracks 27, 28 & 29 respectively. Theremoval of the teeth 30, 31, 32 from the tooth tracks 27, 28, 29 isachieved by an inwardly directed lateral tipping motion on the panels 3& 4.

The inclined faces 27'29' of the teeth of the tracks are directedinwardly in the opposite directions so that parts 1 & 2 will not bespaced out by lateral pressure from the files 12.

The length of the tongues 7, 8 & 9 is approximately the same as theheight of the support panels 3 & 4 to obtain the best value for both theeffective width x and stability. 7

A guide 33 is provided on the outer side edge of one tongue 7 forguiding the support part 1 along the front edge of the stationarysupport surface. This guide 33 can also be used to record the filesfiled in the device. A stop 34 is provided on the outer side edge of theother tongue 8 to stop files inserted into the device from falling outthe back. The guide 33 and stop 34 are connected to tongues 7 or 8 onlyin the zone Z in order that the forward end of the tongues can remainresilient or at least flexible.

In this embodiment the device can only be widened to the distance x. Themiddle tongue 9 of the support 2 is bent upwards to form a lip 35 whichcan engage the support panel 3 to prevent excessive spacing outwardsi.e., an extraction or inwards of the supports 1 & 2. The support devicecan be portable or stationary. In the latter case the toothed tracks 27,28, 29 are provided in a stationary support surface. This device isparticularly suitable for light and very flexible documentary materialsuch as e.g. newspaper sheets which have been folded together manytimes.

My device can be varied by moving the supports 1 & 2 for the necessaryeffective width of the file material to be inserted by using thehandles. As a result of the cog-like intermeshing of the tongues thesupports can be made to contact each other so as to support very thinfile material.

The inclined faces of the teeth of the toothed tracks could be directedoutwardly, and the teeth of the tongues correspondingly shaped to fitthese tracks & then the removal of the teeth from the tooth tracks wouldbe achieved by outwardly directed lateral tipping motion on the panels 38L 4.

One of the parts 1 & 2 could be permanently fixed. The surface 19 couldbe flexible instead of the tongues 7, 8 & 9. The sliding edge 22 couldbe located on the other side of the slip barrier & the panels 3 8t 4tilted inwardly. The sliding edge could be fixed to the support surface19. Instead of each tongue having only one tooth it could have a line ofteeth & the toothed tracks replaced by a single recess adapted toreceive any of these teeth. Instead of teeth 30, 31 & 32 these could bea recess & instead of the toothed track there could be a recess &instead of the toothed track there could be a line of projections.

The teeth 30, 31 & 32 could be on the support surface & the toothedtracks could be on the parts 1 & 2. One of the parts 1 and 2 could havea slip barrier whilst the other part has a tooth. The slip barrier couldbe secured to the support face & not the base of the parts 1 & 2.

The guide 33 could be a rim on the support surface 19. The stop 34 couldbe on the support surface 19.

What I claim is:

1. A support device for record files and the like objects, disposed on ahorizontal support surface, said device comprising at least a supportpanel adapted to support files in a vertical position having a verticalsupport wall and a base panel extending from the lower edge of saidsupport wall and adapted to underlie said files, a substantial portionof the underface of said base panel being smooth to glide easily oversaid horizontal support surface; a pivotting member disposed below thevertical support wall adjacent the lower edge thereof and adapted toengage said horizontal support surface, a slip barrier connected to saidunderface of the base panel and being engageable with said horizontalsurface, said slip barrier being spaced'from the lower edge of saidsupport wall by a predetermined distance so that by a lateral pressureexerted from the inside outwards to the upper part of the support panelsaid slip barrier would be raised from and thus disengaged from saidhorizontal supporting surface, when said pivotting member engages saidhorizontal supporting surface, said slip barrier also being spaced fromthe (outer) edge of said base panel opposite said lower edge by apredetermined distance so that by a lateral pressure exerted fromoutside inward to the upper part of the supporting panel said slipbarrier would be raised from and thus disengaged from said horizontalsupporting surface.

2. A support device as defined in claim 1 additionally including a firstsupport panel being associated with a second support panel and whereinthe base panel of said first support panel is in the form of two spacedtongues and the base panel of said second support panel is in the formof a single central tongue which interleaves with said two spacedtongues of the first support panel and wherein both said support wallshave at least one enlarged recess extending upwards into each saidvertical support wall said recess being sufficient to allow the passageof said tongues as well as to allow said tongues an upward play so thatsaid pressure exerted inside outwards is prevented from beingtransmitted to the support wall.

3. A support device as defined in claim 2, wherein said tongues of saidbase panels are at their outer portions (at a predetermined extend)resilient, whereas the portion of said tongues adjacent the lower edgesof the support walls are rigid.

4. A support device as defined in claim 2, additionally including stopmeans directed upwards for stopping the files falling sideways out fromthe device, said stop means being connected to said spaced tongues.

5. A support device as defined in claim 2, wherein at least one tongueof one of said base panels has an upward directed portion which isadapted to engage the other support panel to prevent separation fromeach other beyond a predetermined distance.

6. A support device as defined in claim 1, wherein said slip barrier isa relatively thin strip of slip proof material.

1. A support device for record files and the like objects, disposed on ahorizontal support surface, said device comprising at least a supportpanel adapted to support files in a vertical position having a verticalsupport wall and a base panel extending from the lower edge of saidsupport wall and adapted to underlie said files, a substantial portionof the underface of said base panel being smooth to glide easily oversaid horizontal support surface; a pivotting member disposed below thevertical support wall adjacent the lower edge thereof and adapted toengage said horizontal support surface, a slip barrier connected to saidunderface of the base panel and being engageable with said horizontalsurface, said slip barrier being spaced from the lower edge of saidsupport wall by a predetermined distance so that by a lateral pressureexerted from the inside outwards to the upper part of the support panelsaid slip barrier would be raised from and thus disengaged from saidhorizontal supporting surface, when said pivotting member engages saidhorizontal supporting surface, said slip barrier also being spaced fromthe (outer) edge of said base panel opposite said lower edge by apredetermined distance so that by a lateral pressure exerted fromoutside inward to the upper part of the supporting panel said slipbarrier would be raised from and thus disengaged from said horizontalsupporting surface.
 2. A support device as defined in claim 1additionally including a first support panel being associated with asecond support panel and wherein the base panel of said first supportpanel is in the form of two spaced tongues and the base panel of saidsecond support panel is in the form of a single central tongue whichinterleaves with said two spaced tongues of the first support panel andwherein both said support walls have at least one enlarged recessextending upwards into each said vertical support wall said recess beingsufficient to allow the passage of said tongues as well as to allow saidtongues an upward play so that said pressure exerted inside outwards isprevented from being transmitted to the support wall.
 3. A supportdevice as defined in claim 2, wherein said tongues of said base panelsare at their outer portions (at a predetermined extend) resilient,whereas the portion of said tongues adjacent the lower edges of thesupport walls are rigid.
 4. A support device as defined in claim 2,additionally including stop means directed upwards for stopping thefiles falling sideways out from the device, said stop means beingconnected to said spaced tongues.
 5. A support device as defined inclaim 2, wherein at least one tongue of one of said base panels has anupward directed portion which is adapted to engage the other supportpanel to prevent separation from each other beyond a predetermineddistance.
 6. A support device as defined in claim 1, wherein said slipbarrier is a relatively thin strip of slip proof material.